Blog Post

In recent years, the biggest question in the Spanish league was whether it would be Barcelona or Real Madrid who would be crowned as champions for the La Liga. Going all the way back to the 2004-05 season, all but one of the La Liga titles have been claimed by these two giants of the Spanish game. We expected more of the same this season, but Barcelona is currently running away with the league, while Real Madrid is currently in a dogfight just to land in the top 4, which would get them an automatic berth into the Champions League next season. Given their current form, a top 4 finish is by no means guaranteed, and their quest to get there could be hampered this coming Saturday when they hit the road to face a Valencia team that is currently sitting ahead of them in the league. This is a fixture that always seems to deliver the goods, and it’s one that also tends to serve up goals. Madrid is coming off arguably their best performance of the season, but they are going to need to be at their very best to get anything out of this one.

As it is, Valencia will be heading home licking their wounds, well aware that they are in for a serious challenge against a Real Madrid team that was finally at its devastating best last weekend. Valencia is second only to Barcelona in terms of home performances this season, going 7-2-1 in their own building while scoring 21 goals and giving up just 6. The fact that 23 of their 40 points this season have been picked up at home should tell you all you need to know about just how tough Valencia are to break down when they have that home-field advantage.

Why bet on the Real Madrid

This Real Madrid side is filled to brimming with legitimate world class players, but they have looked completely unrecognizable at times this season. Madrid has just 1 win in their last 6 La Liga games, with that victory coming in rather devastating fashion last weekend. Real Madrid won that game 7-1 and looked like a completely rejuvenated team with the speedy Gareth Bale back in the line-up. The Welshman looked fantastic, chipping in a pair of goals for the cause, the first of which was an absolute screamer. Despite the positives found in that big win, Real Madrid is still in a spot of bother. They are sitting in 4th right now, with Villareal breathing right down their necks in 5th, so they really cannot afford to drop too many more points. Madrid has gone 4-3-1 on the road this season, scoring 13 and surrendering 7.

Expert Pick and Final Score Prediction

This is a fixture that always seems to deliver goals, so betting OVER 2.5 would be the way to go here. Valencia is great at home, and I think they will avoid defeat but will need to settle for the single point.